International forum on Asia-Pacific trade draws protesters

Protesters in San Francisco on Monday massed outside of a convention center where leaders from countries in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum gathered to discuss trade relations. The demonstrators called for leaders to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and to take action on climate change. U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the forum sidelines.

What are the two leaders set to discuss? Biden and Xi will likely discuss the two countries’ trade relationship. Other topics might include China’s increasing aggression in the South China Sea and efforts to intimidate the self-governing island of Taiwan, which China views as its territory. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently met with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng. She said later that the United States sought to keep its economic relationship with China while also addressing China’s subversive economic behaviors. Ahead of the Biden-Xi meeting, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the United States should consider Chinese interests instead of seeking to impose its will on China.

Dig deeper: Read John D. Wilsey’s column in WORLD Opinions about how the United States should choose its international alliances.